Atlanta day four- annual birthday celebration!

July 13. It's always a special day during the annual Atlanta trip, as it is Linda's birthday! I feel honored that she so willingly has spent the last 18 years working with me on her birthday. It's certainly not the most exciting way to spend your special day. I always make sure we go to dinner somewhere cool, a new adventure most of the time. (Need I remind you that most nights, it is the hotel restaurant or room service.) we worked through the day, saving our appetites for a tiny French bistro we had reservations for. It did not disappoint.

Our buying agenda today included rugs, art, accessories, and a few lamps. It is so creative to find the newest and the hottest things trending. Actually, the birthday girl was one of the hottest things trending, with constant compliments throughout the day by fellow buyers...now that has to make for a Happy Birthday!




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Take a look at this brilliant chrome yellow graphic rug, perfect for the Naples project!




This orange graphic could double for my family room and a client...great multitasking!




Hmmm....love this one too!




Holy smokes!! What's not to love about chevron, totally trending pattern in everything and even in rugs!




I had an assignment for an oversized wall clock. How does this 48" one fit the bill?!




Lots of cobalt and navy blue again...perfect Naples art once again!!





I love these upholstered twin beds. Love. Love. Love.




I have several darling friends who will be coveting this pillow on refined burlap. What's not to love?!




Ok. Orange. Oversized. High gloss. Apple. What about that formula isn't part magic? A favorite vendor will use any Pantone color to customize yours!! If you are willing to wait the four months for production, you've got a customized piece of art! Now that's a winning offer.




Their booth was designed with an organic theme using fresh vegetables! I shot a few photos to show the cleverness of their designs. Sooooo inspiring!

See the above large pedestal urn filled with cabbages and cauliflower .




Oversized carrots and parsnips filled this giant glass vase! Oh. My.





A bag of onions always comes in handy!





We found these chartreuse ceramics at the end of the day. Don't worry, I got enough for Naples and for the store!






We have been carrying some very stylish kitchen papers in the store for the past few months. One if them is a Kraft paper table runner with vintage silverware. It's been super popular. We added this one that is chalkboard paper this market! Great dinner play, party runner, shower decor...so darn cute!





Soon you will be able to customize your own paper placemats with monogram or special family sayings. Great idea! Personalized products...very much on trend.





I couldn't resist adding these gift enclosures for holiday...and holiday placemats too! (Did I mention thAt it is difficult to walk through the stock room due to Christmas orders that have overtaken the space.





Before we left the market, we asked a vendor to take this photo in honor of the annual market birthday celebration.

Photos tomorrow of our Birthday Dinner! Dropbox is taking forever...

Atanta Day 3 Trend Report

Wow. Long day.

After beginning the day at the intensely crowded, almost mob like jewelry cash and carry , we felt tired before lunchtime. We seem to be favorites of several of the vendors, which worked in our favor when it came to waiting in lines of 20 deep women. We left our bins to be shipped and went on to the next vendor.

We found some darling and stylishly cool jewelry to freshen the mix at Black-eyed Susan and we hope you will make the trip to see the new inventory. I'll blog to let you know when it arrives!




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We are bringing these oh so comfy and cute pony wraps and headbands in just in time for stocking stuffers and gifts for the hip younger set. Glitter and tie dyed in fresh colors. These were designed by two young girls and they seem to be big business. They will really pop up the jewelry case and your daughter's and grand daughter's cute hairdos!


At the top of jewelry trends are personal monograms. While monograms have always been classic, they are being spotlighted by some of the top national retailers and will soon appear on my jewelry counter as well. Sterling and gold plated monograms for special order will be available or single letters in the most popular letters. Add a drop pearl for a bit more, choose your chain-plain, pearl or crystal embellished, and different lengths. These make an enduring and personal gift for a loved one (or for yourself).

Naturally, at the top of the order was one for me and one for Linda!








These white exotic animal sculptures caught my eye. They continue to trend in high end design and national home decor magazines. Use them with almost all styles in decor as focal points and art. Personally, I love the gazelle.





Another art piece is this driftwood sculpture of a horse. Almost life size and quite dramatic. I am working on a breath taking Bucks County barn home and this might just make the cut.




Navy continued to be the color trend and we found these beautiful pierced ginger jar urns. Pair this color with orange, lime or chrome yellow and you have the wow factor!

We returned back to our room at about 8:30pm...after leaving our room at 8:30 am! Quite a day with just one too quick lunch break to share a sandwich.

Blogging, paperwork and room service of stone cold pizza, and we are ready to call it a day and prepare for tomorrow's appointments.

Here's to a successful third day. See you tomorrow.

Atlanta Day 2 Trend Report

Prior to our scheduled appointments today, we walked some favorite floors of the apparel market to scout for new jewelry inventory. We were not disappointed!




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Linda and I in our first stop...jewelry buying and in heaven! I wanted the sales rep to get the pretty blue things in the background behind us...a huge trend for the upcoming season in fashion and home decor as well. The necklace I have on is coming in again...since I first ordered it last market, I could have sold it off my body every time I wore it! I ordered more for the store and also the same one in coral. Call to save yours!



Linda and I always find a few things we want for ourselves...one of the delights of our work! We often end up with the same thing, as that is the way orders are placed...i.e. 2 each of this and 2 of that...We thought you could help us decide on which carry-on bag to order!

This navy and orange striking one (with expandable bottom (!) for more cash and carry space! Or...



This posh cream and black striped one...which one do you like?!




We found this stylish and colorful flatware for several custom projects we are working on. Oh. My! Every color you can name and all the in vogue colors.
So cute! Naturally, we were drawn to navy, gray and orange...but the chrome yellow and turquoise was pretty darn perfect too. So many choices...




Navy blue reigns for sure this market. It is a great classic reborn and can be striking with orange, lime or white...or, all three! We bought this assortment of enamel bracelets.



One of our favorite showrooms had this story as their entry point. Everything was put together and enticing.




Classic color, pattern and punch. Wow.




And, and the end of the day, this stylish dessert display was too cute to pass up as a photo op.

Style. It's all over town.

Atlanta Day 1

We got off to a good start today, and even documented the beginning of our trip with a self portrait (By reader request!) only to realize that I don't have a way to download it to my Dropbox account. I elected to bring only my IPad and not my laptop, and took the photo with my small Cannon. Sorry.

We spent the day resourcing new vendors, hit a few old favorites, and did some shopping for several interior clients. It was a good day and our feet held out just fine. Believe me, there are days when we have ruined our feet on the first day!




Red is quite a projection for the upcoming season...we found these great ceramic vases, a beautiful cherry red with unique shapes. Should I order them?




Red and still lots of succulents...




More color in a pretty teal blue...




I'm looking for a special mirror to build a wall of collages mirrors with...this one comes in a reclaimed finish and white. I like it!





My heart stopped when I saw this chartreuse sofa...or should I say davenport?! It's a bit retro. Check out the coffee table too!





We found this possible chandelier for a client working on a home in Naples, Fl. Oh, the color!




...and, these chevron waste cans! Chevron is a big trend in pattern for many things. Pretty cute.










We found some great art possibilities...




...a perfect set of hand crafted imported Italian dishes...more like art!




One of our favorite bedding vendors, Legacy, produced a favorite pallet with this beautiful set in stunning colors. Wow!




We wound up our day previewing the newest in Kate Spade china and gift ware! I need this for every girl in my family from sisters to daughters...and quite a few good friends, including Linda! Put your orders in, please!




...or, if you want a paperweight instead, here you go!!




...what if we started a bridal registry?




We loved these beautiful ceramic frames. Note the tiny bow and band. Perfect for a new bride or baby!





We took a fancy to these enameled clocks in watermelon, white,turquoise and black. Look for these soon I hope!




I think these unique everyday dishes will be perfect for my Charleston kitchen project and found quite a few options for the formal china as well.

We've got a full day planned for tomorrow. With list in hand and a new pair of shoes we are armed with what we need for day 2.

Stay tuned for more reports!

Atlanta July 2013 begins!

With a 3AM wake up call, a 90 minute wait through airport security and an overlay in Atlanta of a mere 2.5 hours to get to Charlotte for a haircut and meet up with Linda to drive back to Atlanta....the week of buying begins!

The length of that run on sentence is how my day felt today! It's part of the trip to fly into Charlotte, see my cutest ever grand daughters, and then drive the four hours to Atlanta. Linda and I catch up on our children, do some last minute planning for the days ahead and overwhelm the bell men when we roll into our hotel. Yes, we are two matched high maintenance girls...

I shot this photo of our collective shoe wardrobe ( a much requested part of my market reports!).


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The shoes go well into the closet and you can see that I had to request 8 additional hangars from housekeeping. Tomorrow we start our hunt for new and exciting things to fill the store. With our clothes pressed ( remind me to put my iron on the list of must haves next market ...I hate toy irons), our list started and a good nights sleep, we are ready for the task.

As usual, I promise to keep you updated on the good finds and the not so good...and, I'll let you know how the shoes are sustaining us!

Till tomorrow, then.


It looks like orange, coral, and a little glitter seem to rule this trip. And what's wrong with that?! I hope you'll stay tuned.